Device for removing theftproof lamps



June l2, 1928.

L. KULP ET AL.

DEVICE FOR REMOVING THEFTPRooF LAMPS Filed May s1. 1924 Patented June 12, 1928.

l UNITED STATES LESTER KUL?, or CHICAGO,` AND nomini:v

SIGNORS TO KULP THEFTPROOF'LAMP PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

s. conLErr, or EvANs'reN, ILLINOIS, Asflooirrralvv, or eHIcAGo, ILLINOIS, A conl DEVICE FOR REMOVING THEFTPROOF LAMPS;

Application filed May 3.1,

This invention relatesy to devices for removing thettproof lampsv from receptacles and has particular reference to suchy devices which maybe used to remove theftproot electric lamp bulbs having base `members ro*y tatable within the shell contact when the bulb is in thettproof condition within a re- `ceptaCle. Theftproof lamps of this character are disclosed in the patent to Daniel R. Coughlin, No. 1,437,723, issued December' 5, 1922.

One of the objects of this invention comprises the provision of a combination tool for breaking, without excessive shattering, theneclrportion oftheftproot electric lamp bulbs off the character above indicated preparatory to the removal ofthe bases .ofl such bulbs from their theftproof conditionv in receptacles.

` A `t'urther object of this invention is to provide means in connection with suchl a combination toolf for collecting and retaining the broken vparts of. the lamp bulb when shattered. More specifically itis an aim of this invention toy provide a Ifabric sack for receiving the parts of the broken bulb, such sack havingan eXpansible opening permitting bulbsof various dimensions to be inserted` and substantially wholly enveloped by the sack in order to prevent scat-v tering of the broken glass.

A further aim of this invention is to provide means on the combination tool not only for breaking the lamp but also for engaging and removing the shell contact from the receptacle aiter the bulb is broken.

Further objects oiI the invention will become apparent from the following description, the appended claim and the accompanying drawings.

For purposes of description and illustration several specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view ot an assembled device embodying the invention, showing the device in operative position ready to be used in crushing a lamp bulb;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view partly broken away and taken upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating 1924. Serial N0. 717,136".

the operation lof the tool -or ,engaging and y removing the shell contact from a receptacle after thebulb is broken; and,

Fig. 5 is an elevational view partly broken away, illustrating a modified form of. the

`invention in operative position .ready for use in crushing a lamp bulb. Y

The principal partsV of he device embodyf ing the invention and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprise a fabric sack bor container l0 fastened upon a tool 11', which is `made in the form of pliers. The tool, 11 embodies a pair ,of jaws 12 and lf3, one Aot which is provided with a pointedmember- 14. These jaws `are preferablyinteriorly shapedwith a contour substantially to lit the neck portion ot' alamp bulb. The jaws 12 and 13 are preferably extended-as at 15 and' 1G respectively, to provide tongs or pliers for .engaging and removing the shell contact from a. receptacleI after the bulb has been. broken into the fabric bag 1.0.

The tool-11- maybe provided with handles 17 and 1 8 of conventional plierform` whichl comprise integral. extensions to the jaws 12 and 13, respectively. rlilac handles 1T and'. 18. may be .pivotedf upon ascrew 19 in the conventional marinero-t plier handles. l

The upper peripheral edge of the sack 10 may be hemmed over a supporting hoop or wire 20. The ends of the wire 2O may be clamped as at 21 beneath a nut 22 on the pivot-ing screw 19. The wire 2O may also be supported on one of the plier jaws as at 23. Such a support may be effected by bending the wire around the plier jaw or by soldering.

1n using one of the lamp bulbs of the type described in the above mentioned patent, the bulb is firmly screwed into a receptacle and upon attempts being made to remove the bulb by turning the bulb out, the lamp base will freely turn Within the threaded shell contact and hence the threaded shell con! tact cannot be screwed out. The lamp bulb is then in a t-heftproof condition. However, when it becomes necessary to remove the lamp when worn out, such remo-val may be accomplished with the device embodying` this invention in the following described manner. The sack or fabric bag 10 is drawn up around .the lamp bulb, as shown in Fig. 1, and the neck of the bulb is received between the jaws 12 and 13. Upon applying a slight "pressure to the handlesl?" and 18, the pointed member 14 will puncture the glass. Immediately upon puncturingserves to prevent ai violent shattering of thev glass. As a result, the bulbs may be broken Y with very little noise and all of the broken partswilldropvinto the'bag 10. In most cases, the main part ofthe bulb will remain whole, only the neck portion being broken.

After the bulb has been brokenv asabove described, the lower edge (as at24 in Fig. si.) ofthe threaded shell contact may be theny grasped by the jaw members 15 and 16. In order to readily accomplish this purpose the jaw members 15 and'16 'are preferably extended upwardly as best shown in Fig.

3, so that the threaded shellcontact may be firmly gripped andthen turned out of the receptacle; i

-In Fig. 5` a modified form of the device is shown in, which a tool 25 similar to the tool 11 is provided. However, a fabric bag 26 is here provided with an expansible opening permitting bulbs of various dimensions to be inserted into the bag. The upper pey riphery of the bag is 'hemmed over an elastic bag as at 27, which is'fastened to a pivoting j screw 28 in any suitable manner as by an eyelet 29. With this form of the device, the bag may be inserted over lamps having very large bulb portions. Yet after the lamp .has been inserted the elastic band will draw together theopening ofl the'bag so that it will fit closely'around theneck portion of the bulb and thus prevent shattering of the v particles ofglass when'the lamp is crushed.

' While several embodiments of the invention have'been` shown and described, it is not desired however, that any limitations be imposedthereupon except as specifically set forth in the appended claim or Arequired bythep or equivalents of the various elements are intended to comerwithin the scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as-new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

'A combinationv tool for removing theft'-V proof electric lamp bulbs that have a base member which is rotatable within the shell contact when the lamp is in'theft-proof condition withina receptacle, said tool comprising tongs having jaws for engaging and crushing the neck portion of the bulb, said jaws being extended to form pliers for en? gaging and removing the shell contact lfrom a receptacle after the bulb is broken,- anda fabric bag mounted on the tool for receiving and retaining the parts of the bulb when broken, at least one of said jaws being movi able independently of said bag. i

In witness whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names.

LESTER KULP. ROBERT s. ooELETT.

rior art since mechanical expedientsv 

